NEW YORK — Alan Abelson, who spent 57 years as a writer, editor and chief columnist for financial news publication Barron’s, has died at the age of 87.

The author of the long-running Up and Down Wall Street column died Thursday of a heart attack, according to Sara Blask, a spokeswoman for Dow Jones, which publishes Barron’s. Abelson had been on a medical leave of absence from Barron’s for the past three months, The Wall Street Journal reported.

“Financial journalism lost one of its leading lights today with Alan Abelson’s passing,” Ed Finn, Barron’s editor and president, said in a statement. “For many readers, there can be no substitute for Alan’s witty, wise and wonderfully written comments each week in Up and Down Wall Street. He touched so many lives and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Abelson graduated with degrees in chemistry and English from City College of New York, and earned a master’s degree from the Writer’s Workshop at the University of Iowa. He joined Barron’s in 1956 and became managing editor nine years later. During his years as editor, Abelson was noted for his training and mentoring of dozens of financial reporters and editors.

Advertisement

Abelson began writing Up and Down Wall Street in 1966 and the column became a weekly mainstay of the publication for nearly half a century. He was still writing the column up until his medical leave. Randall W. Forsyth, who took over in Abelson’s absence, will continue to author the column, according to the Journal.

Dow Jones, Barron’s and The Wall Street Journal are owned by News Corp.